Guru Hargobind was 11 years when his father (Sh Guru Arjun dev Ji) became a martyr. According to the orders of Emperor Jahangir .Five other Sikhs who were arrested and tortured to death along with the Guru Arjun dev Ji

GURU GADDI

Hargobind was invested with his high office (Guru Gaddi) immediately the news of Guru Arjun’s martyrdom was received by his followers in Amritsar.

Like always it was Baba Buddha who performed the most significant ceremony and according to custom, wrapped a turban round his head signifying that the office of the father (symbolized by the head gear) had descended upon the son. The young guru however refused to accept a seli (woolen cord worn as a necklace or around the head by the earlier gurus as a symbol of their spiritual station) and two swords instead one on each side. One to signify temporal power (miri) and the other spiritual (piri or faqiri)

He also gave instructions to the masands and to the large gathering assembled on this occasion from far and wide to make offerings in future in horses and weapons and not in cash. Along with the devotional music, the Guru made martial music popular among the followers (the dhunis or martial tunes suggested for the various ballads-vars included in the Adi Granth Guru Arjun dev ji gave advice to him.

“Fight only for what is morally justified against the tyrants who tyrannize over the poor. Think of god while fighting and share with the needy all that you earn.”

Guru Hargobind encouraged physical culture and training in weapons of offence and defense. The spiritual side was also not neglected and services were held, morning and evening attended by the guru personally for the inner enlightment of his people so that his greater emphasis on the temporal may not detract his followers from the spiritual ideal to defend which a warlike posture had now become essential. The Guru soon had about one thousand horses under him and many Jats of malwa, majha and doaba including Muslims, joined his ranks, on one of whom, painda khan he showered special affection. He also kept a body guard of 52 horses.

In mid – 1606(i.e. immediately on ascending the gaddi) he is said to have laid the foundation-stone of the Akal Takht facing the Golden temple and when built, the Guru held his court here to minister to secular matters. Some of his devout followers like Bidhi chand, Pirana, Jetha, Paira and langha he made commanders of one hundred of each. It is said he would go out hunting with his followers each forenoon, accompanied by hounds and hawks. Guru was now prime of his youth reports of the guru activities reached the ears of the Emperor, and he called him into his presence. The guru assigned the duties of the Harmandir and community kitchen (langar) to Bhai Buddha ji and the spiritual instruction to Bhai Gurdas ji and set out for Delhi. Guru ji appeared before the Emperor Jahangir and was received by the latter with due regards. A debate on religion and Sikh doctrine held between guru sahib and emperor Jahangir (having pre tempered mind against Guru Hargobind) but the emperor remained unimpressed and ordered for the imprisonment of guru ji and Gawlior fort. Guruji was detained in the fort up to three years i.e. from 1609 to 1612.

Sain Mian Mir approached Emperor Jahangir own behalf of guru ji and secured the releasing orders. Guru ji insisted upon Emperor for the release of other fifty two Hindu kings on his personal surety. The request was obliged and all the prisoners were released. Then the title of “bandi chor “was given to guru ji and still remembered by this name guru ji reached Amritsar on the occasion of Diwali. This was big occasion for the Sikhs. It is said that Baba Buddha ji littered the Earthen lamps throughout the city. The Sikhs celebrated this occasion with great enthusiasm. From this day the Sikh began to celebrate Diwali festival as “Bandi chor divas also”.

Now the attitude of Emperor towards Guru ji changed considerably and remained favorable and friendly till the death of Jahangir it was the outcome of the noble interceding by the religions secular personalities like Sain Mian Mir and Nizamuddin. Shortly after the release of Guru ji. The angry Sikhs overtook chandu shah (the main culprit behind the execution of Guru Arjan dev) 5th Guru. They preceded him through the streets of Lahore and put to death. Shortly after the release from Gwalior fort and having cordial relations with the state, Guruji started to reconsolidate the Sikh nation. He modified the concept of charan amrit and was called sacha patshah.

Guru ji took dharma parchar tours to spread Sikhism. He started from Amritsar and covered thousand miles in India. In Punjab he visited Kartarpur and made it as head quarter of Sikh nation and laid the foundation stone of Hargobindpur town near the river Beas in 1621. Guru ji visited Nanakmata along with some saint soldiers seeing Guru ji on the scene. The yogis fled away and never came back or interfered in the religious affairs of almast jee (a pious Sikh preacher) Guru ji returned Amritsar via darauli. Guru ji also held a detailed discussion on the spiritual and religion with a Maratha saint Ram Das Samarth in the spiritual and religious matters in a very cordial way at Srinagar ( Garhwal) now it is in uttrakhand

Guru ji visited Kashmir as a part of preaching Sikhism. Guru Hargobind patronized one Seva Das for preaching Sikhism. He and his mother Bhag Bhari served Guru ji with much zeal and devotion. Gurujee held a short meeting with his many devoted Sikhs and preacher kattu shah (a converted Muslim). The large number of Kashmiris both Hindus and Muslims embraced Sikhism due to the devoted and committed preaching by Guru Hargobind.

Guru ji returned home via baramula and proceeded further to Gujarat where he met saint shah daulla who appreciated Guru ji spiritual status and mode of living with splendor. Guru Sahib also visited Rai-Bhoedi Talwandi (The Birth place of Guru Nanak ji 1st Guru). He also visited kurukshetra and established there a Sikh preaching center.

After some time, the Guru visited Kartarpur, Khadur and Govindwal to call upon the descendants of the first four Gurus and offered them large presents. He also met Baba Sri Chand the ascetic son of Guru Nanak, when the Baba complimented him on his chivalry and piety. The Guru replied with profound humility,” It is all the result of your blessings”. Meantime , his great devotee Baba Buddha who had served six gurus, In succession , passed away ripe in years and glory , leaving his son , Bhana , in the Guru’s service Baba Guruditta, who was by now married to natty, got a son, named Dhirmal later he was to prove a great source of struggle in the Guru’s house but Baba Guruditta himself was a man of great piety and detachment , and when Baba Sri Chand asked the Guru’s permission to adopt one of his sons, he made for him the choice of Guruditta to whom Sri chand “gave away his own Persian cap and put on his neck a string of lotus seeds”. As if to transfer his gaddi to him. Taking his instructions from his father, Baba Guruditta also founded the city of Kiratpur (The city of God’s praise) a place hallowed by a miracle making. Muslim devotee of Guru Nanak, Budhan shah, at base of Shivalik hills and propagated the Guru’s faith here with great devotion and steadfastness.

The other son Atal Rai, though much beloved of the Guru, it is said performing miracles and once it is said to have revived Mohan, a seemingly dead playmate of his. The Guru, however showed his utter displeasure and said “ my son has started dissipating his spiritual powers without discrimination shall our occupation now be to revive everyone’s dead son and interfere ever in god’s will we who are enjoyed to accept whatever good or bad comes to us in his pleasure” Baba Atal took the reproof so much to heart that he gave up the ghost soon thereafter while yet he was only in his ninth year. This led to great sorrow and lamentation in the family but the Guru said “Atal has become like his name, immortal for he has obeyed the will of God willingly. He will be the guardian angel of the city of Amritsar and no one will turn away from his door hungry or empty handed.” A nine storyed structure , called the Bunga of Baba Atal was erected later (1778 to 1784)to commemorate his nine years wonder of a child and to this day the poor are constantly fed , night and day at this beautiful shrine chiseled in cool marble .

After the death of Emperor Jahangir the policy matter of the new emperor Shah Jahan changed considerably. The emperor took to the notice of new converts to Sikhism from the Muslims. He ordered to destroy all the temples and Gurudwaras which were under construction. The sacred book of Guru Arjun dev ji in Dabbi Bazar. Lahore (now in Pakistan) was desecrated and converted into a mosque (later Maharaja Ranjit sing re-excavated and re –established this baoli). The tyranny and injustice of the Muslim theocratic state was opposed. This was only an imperative measure of defense. Guru Ji converted the peaceful sect into a war like community, ready to offend their interests with the swords and it was the need of the hour.

In 1629 mukhlis khan was made the Governor to Lahore. He and Qazi Rustom Khan were best friends. Kaulan (Mata) Hindu lady as it is also signified by the name Kaulan, was forcibly abducted by the Qazi Rustom khan in her childhood and was made a maid servant. She was treated like a slave. At the young age, she came under the influence of the teachings of Sain Mian Mir. She also began to take part in the religious sittings of Guru ji and became an ardent and pious follower of Guru Hargobind. On noticing this attitude of Kaulan, Qazi became harsher towards her. How a Qazi, an extreme fanatic personality, tolerate Her deep and devotional interest in Sikh religion. Because of Qazi harsh treatment she sought the help of Sain Mian Mir. Who deputed his disciple Abdul Yar Khan to escort Kaulan safely to Amritsar, where she was treated kindly by Guru ji and provided her a safe and separate lodging near a pond, (later it was converted into a task by Guru ji and named it Kaulsar, after the name of Kaulan. She was a pious disciple of guru ji and an orden follower of Sikhism. She arrange religious congregations on Sikhism and gurbanis at her residence. Within a short span of time she became much popular among the Sikh masses. Thus she worn the sympathy of the Sikhs who began to address her as Mata Kaulan ji. She breathed her last on 4th July 1629 at kartarpur (Jalandhar dist in Pb) while serving for the Sikh nation.

When Shah Jahan succeeded the throne after the death of his father Jahangir, Qazi Rustam Khan lodged a complaint with the new emperor, who was incensed earlier by the fanatic Muslims and Hindus against the Sikh nation and Guru Hargobind. He obliged the complaint and revised his policy matter; earlier adopted by his father Jahangir towards Guru ji. The possible conflict out of changed circumstances was inevitable. Guru jee fought five battles during the regime of Shah Jahan, and all were won. A small conflict of Rohilla near Hargobindpur was fought in 1621 AD. It was the first armed clash between the Faujdar of Jalandar and Guru ji.

The second and the most serious conflict between Guru ji and Mughal forces were fought in April 1634 A.D. It was started with the lifting of royal hawks of the imperial army of Shah Jahan by the Sikhs who incidentally were also hunting in the same territory around Gumtala near Amritsar. This led to a small violent conflict between the two parties. Guru ji was not direction involved in this clash.

This incident enraged the Emperor. He deputed Mukhlis khan with 7000 soldiers” to teaching the lesson” to Guru ji. The mini fortress of Lohgarh was attacked. Mukhlis Khan, the commander and most of his leading lieutenants were killed. Guru ji also suffered heavily.

After sometime a tussle between Guru ji and Subedar of Lahore began over the two horses which were forcibly snatched and taken into custody by the Mughal officials from the two devotees of Guru ji. This incident was informed to Guru Ji. Bhai Bidhi chand a daring Sikh recovered the horses one by one from the royal stable .Guru ji faced another encounter with the mughal forces but remained victorious.

After these successful encounters Guru ji retired at kartarpur along with his warriors. Painda khan Path an and commander in guru army and childhood friend deserted him later and joined the Mughal camp. He and Kala khan (brother of Mukhlis Khan) along with imperial army made an attack on Guru ji at kartarpur on 26th April 1635. The Sikhs fought with great courage in which painda khan and Kala khan were killed. Several Sikhs saint soldiers were also martyred. Guru ji moved onwards kiratpur sahib. Again Guru ji encourage was suddenly attacked by a contingent of royal forces under the command of Ahmad khan near Phagwara on 29th April 1935 A.D. it caused considerable great loss both side. Guru ji crossed Sutlej river and reached kiratpur where he established another spiritual and preaching centre of the sikh nation. Guru Hargobind breathed his last on 3rd march 1644. Before his heavenly abode Guru ji nominated his grandson Sh Har Rai( the second son of Baba Guruditta as his successor( seventh guru) at the age of 14 years .Har Rai was well trained in the use of arms and other secular duties but he was spiritual most awakened. He was so sensitive to pain towards living things. His grandfather Guru Hargobind ramarked. “It behaves God’s servant to be tender to all things “. The Guru Ji passed the last ten years of life in prayer and meditation at kiratpur.